Base support assembly for vacuum vessels

ABSTRACT

A base support assembly for bottles or fillers in vacuum vessels comprising a tubular axially extending support member of resilient material having its upper end shaped to form a seating to accommodate the base of the fillers, and a resilient reinforcing member housed in the support member, the reinforcing member extending axially and substantially symmetrically within the support member and having an axial length less than and an axial compression resistance greater than those of the support member, the arrangement being such that when an axial compression force is applied to the assembly such force is initially resisted by the support member and subsequently it is resisted both by the support member and the reinforcing member.

United States Patent 11 1 Wilson 1111 3,750,819 14 1 Aug. 7, 1973 BASE SUPPORT ASSEMBLY FOR VACUUM VESSELS [22] Filed: Dec. 4, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 95,198

889,331 2/1962 Great Britain 215/13 R Primary Examiner-Samuel B. Rothberg Assistant Examiner-James R. Garrett Attorney-Harness, Dickey 8L Pierce ABSTRACT A base support assembly for bottles or fillers in vacuum vessels comprising a tubular axially extending support Cl 215/13 220/9 5 member of resilient material having its upper end [51] Int. Cl. A47] 41/00 shaped to form a seating to accommodate the ase of Field 0! Search 215/13 220/9 C, the fillers, and a resilient reinforcing member housed in 2 5 the support member, the reinforcing member extending axially and substantially symmetrically within the References Cited support member and having an axial length less than UNITED STATES PATENTS and an axial compression resistance greater than those 1055 950 3/1913 Steel 220 15 x Support member, the ang ment being such 12/1960 Brammingw N 215/13 R that when an axial compression force is applied to the 3,043,466 7/1962 Gardner 220 15 X assembly such force is initially resisted by the support 3,283,934 11/1966 Chappell 215/13 R member and subsequently it is resisted both by the sup- FOREIGN PATENTS 0R APPLICATIONS port member and the reinforcing member.

1,232,608 4/1960 France 215/13 R 12 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In general vacuum vessels comprise a vacuum insulated filler or bottle housed within a protective case or canister. During use of the vessel shock forces may be accidentally applied to cause the filler to be damaged by hitting against the case. To overcome this problem it has hitherto been proposed to provide means for resiliently supporting the base of the filler in the protective case to resist or absorbshock forces which may be applied to the filler.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention there is provided a base support assembly for fillers in vacuum vessels and comprising a substantially tubular axially extending support member of resilient material having its upper end shaped to form a seating to accommodate the base of the filler; and a resilient reinforcing member housed in the support member; the reinforcing member extending axially and substantially symmetrically within the support member adjacent the axially extending wall thereof and having respectively an axial length less than, and an axial compression resistance greater than, those of the support member; the arrangement being such that when a compression force is applied axially to the assembly, such force is initially resisted by the support member and subsequently, if the force is sufficiently large, it is resisted both by the support member and the reinforcing member.

Further according to'the present invention there is provided a vacuum vessel comprising, in combination, a vacuum insulated filler housed within a protective case and a base support assembly as stated in the immediately preceding paragraph, wherein the support assembly is located between a closed bottom portion of the filler and a bottom wall of the case.

In the general design of vacuum vessels the mouth of the case is biased into sealing engagement with the upper part of the case or a shaped pouring lip or other closure member carried thereby and, in addition to resiliently supporting the filler in its case, the support assembly ofthe present invention is conveniently used for biasing the filler so that it is pressed snugly in an upward direction away from the bottom wall of the case against the seal or other means which retains the upper end or mouth of the filler in the case.

The suport member is preferably moulded in a plastics material whilst the reinforcing member may comprise a tube of resilient material such as natural or synthetic rubber or a helically formed spring of metal or plastics material.

During the conventional manufacture of vacuum insulated fillers, the filler is left with a central tubulation or exhausting tip. This tip is easily damaged and preferably the vacuum vessel in accordance with the present invention is so arranged that the exhausting tip extends axially within the confines of the support assembly to be protected thereby.

With the foregoing considerations in order, the principal object of the invention is to provide a base support assembly for bottles in vacuum vessels which is adapted to be located between a closed bottom portion of the bottle and a bottom wall of a protective canister for the bottle to resist shock forces which may be applied tothe vessel, and further objects of the invention are to provide a base support incorporating the foregoingstructural relationships and mode of operation.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 illustrates an axial section through a base support assembly in accordance with the present invention and shows the assembly in an unflexed condition while supporting a vacuum insulated filler;

FIG. 2 illustrates the lower part of a vacuum vessel which incorporates the base support assembly shown in FIG. 1 which assembly is shown in its flexed condition;

FIG. 3 illustrates a further embodiment of a base support assembly constructed in accordance with the present invention which assembly is shown in axial section and in an unflexed condition to support a vacuum insulated filler; and

FIG. 4 illustrates the lower part of a vacuum vessel incorporating the base support assembly shown in FIG. 3 which assembly is illustrated in a flexed condition.

FIG. 5 is a partial sectional view, in part similar to FIG. 1, showing another embodiment of the invention.

Where possible throughout the following description the same' parts or members in eachof the figures have been accorded the same references. Further, for convenience of description, FIGS. 1 through 4 only illustrate the lower parts of the vacuum vessels, it being realized that the upper parts of such vessels are of conventional design.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring firstly to FIGS. 1 and 2., the support assembly 1 comprises a tubular axially extending support member 2 which is moulded of resilient plastics material to have at its upper end an external flange 3 and at its lower end an external flange 4. The upper surface of the flange 3 is shaped to form a seating 3a to accommodate the base of a vacuum insulated bottle shown generally at 5 while the lower flange '4 provides a stable base for the assembly 1.

The. support member 1 has an axially extending wall 6 which is of frusto-conical form to taper outwardly in a direction from the lower end to the upper end of the support member. At or near the lower end of the support member is a radially inwardly directed bottom flange 7 on which is mounted a resilient tube 8 which is conveniently made. in rubber. The tube 8 is housed in a support member 1 and extends axially adjacent the wall 6 and respectively has an axial length less than, and an axial compression resistance greater than, those of the support member.

a In use, thesupport assembly 1 is located on a bottom wall 9 of, and in, a protective case 10. The case 10 houses the vacuum insulated tiller 5 which is supported on the bottom wall 9 through the assembly 1. To restrain the base support assembly 1 from radial movement within the case 10 some form of securing means may be provided which, in the present example, is com veniently achieved by mounting the base support as sembly in a complementary recessed portion 11 in the bottom wall 9 of the casing. Further, the support member may be adhesively secured to the bottom portion of the tiller at the interface of the seating 3a with the filler.

As aforesaid, in the general design of vacuum vessels the support assembly for the base of the filler yieldingly biases the upper end of the filler into sealing engagement with the upper part of the ease or a pouring lip or the like. Thus, in assembled condition, there is a normal compressive force in an axial direction exerted upon the support assembly.

This normal compressive force causes some outward flexing of the wall 6, but not enough to bring the bottom of the filler into engagement with the upper end of the reinforcing member 8. Consequently if a compression force is applied axially to the assembly 1 (as may be encountered by a shock force being delivered to the vacuum vessel) such force is initially resisted by the wall 6 of the support member 2 flexing further outwardly as shown in FIG. 2. If the compression force is sufficiently large the flexing of the wall 6 eventually causes the bottom portion of the filler 5 to bear on the upper end of the tube 8 which is subsequently flexed outwardly (see FIG. 2) causing the force to be resisted both by the support member 2 and the tube 8.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3 and 4 the wall 6 of the support member 2 is cylindrical in form and has a peripherally spaced array of axially extending apertures 6a which are provided to facilitate radial flexing of the wall. The support member 2 in FIG. 3 has a radially inwardly directed top flange 12 at a position adjacent its upper shaped end. The flange 12 carries an axially and downwardly extending tubular extension 13. This extension is substantially cup shaped and terminates at a position above the bottom end of the support member 2. As shown in FIG. 3 the tube 8 extends between the inner face of the wall 6 and the outer face of the extension 13.

In use the base support assembly shown in FIG. 3 is located within a protective case as shown in FIG. 4 in a similar manner to that above described with reference to FIG. 2. If the filler 5 is axially displaced towards the bottom wall 9 of the case a compressive force is aplied axially to the support assembly 1. During progressive axial compression of the assembly 1, the wall 6 of the support member is flexed outwardly to resist such compression until the flange l2 bears on the upper end of the tube 8 thereby causing the tube to be flexed outwardly to further resist the compressive force. Finally the extension 13 bears on the bottom wall 9 and is thereby flexed. Consequently it will be seen that at maximum resistance to axial compressive forces applied tothe support assembly in the embodiment of FIGS. 3 and 4, all the members 2, 8 and I3 are flexed.

As in conventional vacuum insulated fillers, the filler 5 has a central tip 50 which is left after the moulding and exhausting operation. The tip 5a is usually of a fragile nature and consequently it is preferred that it extends axially within the confines of the support assembly l as illustrated to be protected by the assembly.

As aforesaid, in addition to absorbing substantial shock forces applied to the tiller 5, the base support assembly 1 usually serves to bias the filler 5 upwardly against the usual type of closure seal at the top of the case 10 in which case the wall 6 of the support member 1 will be maintained in a partially flexed condition.

The flange 7 in FIG. 3 is thinner than that in FIG. I and as a consequence is more flexible. As is seen from FIG. 4 the flange 7 in FIG. 3 flexes upwardly to retain the sleeve 8 when the assembly is mounted on the base 9. On the other hand, the flange 7 in FIG. 1 remains uneffected when located on the base 9. The frusto-conical upper surface of the flange 7 of FIG. I may provide a more positive seating for the sleeve 8, particularly when the latter is under axial loading (as shown in FIG. 2). In addition the rigidity of the flange 7 in FIG. I may necessitate in the sleeve 8 being located through the open top of the base assembly whereas the flexibility of the flange 7 in FIG. 3 permits the sleeve 8 to be located through the bottom of the assembly.

As has been noted, the reinforcing member may comprise either a tube of resilient material, as in the illustrated embodiment, or a helically formed spring of metal or plastic. In such embodiments the helical spring can be a physical substitute for the sleeve 8 of the illustrated embodiments.

Such an embodiment is illustrated in FIG. 5 wherein the helical spring is identified by the reference numeral 8a.

Although only two embodiements of the invention have been described, it will be appreciated that further modifications in the form and arrangement of parts may be made within the scope and spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

l. A base support assembly for fillers in vacuum vessels and comprising a substantially tubular axially extending support member of resilient material having its upper end shaped to form a seating to accommodate the base of the tiller; and a resilient reinforcing member housed in the support member, the reinforcing member extending axially and substantially symmetrically within the support member adjacent the axially extending wall thereof and having respectively an axial length less than, and an axial compression resistance greater than, those of the support member; the arrangement being such that when a compression force is applied axially to the assembly such force is initially resisted by the support member and subsequently, if the force is sufficiently large, it is resisted both by the support member and the reinforcing member.

2. An assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the reinforcing member substantially comprises a tube of resilient material.

3. An assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the reinforcing member comprises a helically formed spring.

4. An assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the reinforcing member is mounted on a substantially radially inwardly directed bottom flange located at or near the lower end of the support member.

5. An assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the support member has a substantially radially inwardly directed top flange at a position adjacent its upper shaped end, which flange is adapted to bear on the adjacent upper end of the reinforcing member during axial compression of the assembly.

6. An assembly as claimed in claim 5 in which the top flange carries an axially and downwardly extending substantially tubular extension, this extension terminating at a position above the bottom end of the support member, the arrangement being such that, during progressive axial compression of the assembly, the wall of the support member is flexed, thereafter both the said wall and reinforcing member are flexed and finally the said wall, reinforcing member and tubular extension are all flexed.

7. An assembly as claimed in claim 6 wherein the reinforcing member extends between the inner face of the wall of the support member and the outer face of the tubular extension.

8. An assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the wall of the support member has a peripherally spaced array of axially extending apertures to facilitate flexing of the wall.

9. A vacuum vessel comprising, in combination, a vacuum insulated filler housed within a protective case and a base support assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the support assembly is located between a closed bottom portion of the filler and a bottom wall of the case.

10. A base support assembly for fillers in vacuum vessels and comprising a substantially tubular axially extending support member of resilient material having its upper end shaped to form a seating to accommodate the base of the filler; and a resilient reinforcing member, the reinforcing member comprising a helically formed spring extending axially and substantially coextensive with the support member adjacent the axially extending wall thereof and having respectively an axial length less than the support member; the arrangement being such that when a compression force is applied axially to the assembly such force is initially resisted by the support member and subsequently, if the force is sufficiently large, it is resisted both by the support member and the reinforcing member.

11. A base support assembly for fillers and vacuum vessels comprising a substantially tubular axially extending support member of resilient material having its upper end shaped to form a seat to accommodate the base of the filler, a generally cylindrical extension integrally connected to the support member adjacent its upper end and adapted to encircle a tubulation formed at the base of the filler, said cylindrical extension being resilient and being of lesser axial length than said tubular support member, said support member being adapted to be resiliently deformed when a compressive force is exerted thereto and said cylindrical extension being adapted to be resiliently deformed after a predetermined deformation of said support member to assist in resisting applied forces.

12. A base support assembly for fillers in vacuum vessels and comprising a substantially tubular axially extending support member of resilient material having its upper end shaped to form a seating to accommodate the base of the filler; and a resilient reinforcing member, the reinforcing member comprising a tube of resilient material disposed within the support member extending axially and substantially coextensive with the support member adjacent the axially extending wall thereof and having respectively an axial length less than the support member; the arrangement being such that when a compression force is applied axially to the assembly such force is initially resisted by the support member and subsequently, if the force is sufficiently large, it is resisted both by the support member and the reinforcing member. 

1. A base support assembly for fillers in vacuum vessels and comprising a substantially tubular axially extending support member of resilient material having its upper end shaped to form a seating to accommodate the base of the filler; and a resilient reinforcing member housed in the support member, the reinforcing member extending axially and substantially symmetrically within the support member adjacent the axially extending wall thereof and having respectively an axial length less than, and an axial compression resistance greater than, those of the support member; the arrangement being such that when a compression force is applied axially to the assembly such force is initially resisted by the support member and subsequently, if the force is sufficiently large, it is resisted both by the support member and the reinforcing member.
 2. An assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the reinforcing member substantially comprises a tube of resilient material.
 3. An assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the reinforcing member comprises a helically formed spring.
 4. An assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the reinforcing member is mounted on a substantially radially inwardly directed bottom flange located at or near the lower end of the support member.
 5. An assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the support member has a substantially radially inwardly directed top flange at a position adjacent its upper shaped end, which flange is adapted to bear on the adjacent upper end of the reinforcing member during axial compression of the assembly.
 6. An assembly as claimed in claim 5 in which the top flange carries an axially and downwardly extending substantially tubular extension, this extension terminating at a position above the bottom end of the support member, the arrangement being such that, during progressive axial compression of the assembly, the wall of the support member is flexed, thereafter both the said wall and reinforcing member are flexed and finally the said wall, reinforcing member and tubular extension are all flexed.
 7. An assembly as claimed in claim 6 wherein the reinforcing member extends between the inner face of the wall of the support member and the outer face of the tubular extension.
 8. An assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the wall of the support member has a peripherally spaced array of axially extending apertures to facilitate flexing of the wall.
 9. A vacuum vessel comprising, in combination, a vacuum insulated filler housed within a protective case and a base support assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the support assembly is located between a closed bottom portion of the filler and a bottom wall of the case.
 10. A base support assembly for fillers in vacuum vessels and comprising a substantially tubular axially extending support member of resilient material having its upper end shaped to form a seating to accommodate the base of the filler; and a resilient reinforcing member, the reinforcing member comprising a helically formed spring extending axially and substantially coextensive with the support member adjacent the axially extending wall thereof and having respectively an axial length less than the support member; the arrangement being such that when a compression force is applied axially to the assembly such force is initially resisted by the support member and subsequently, if the force is sufficiently large, it is resisted both by the support member and the reinforcing member.
 11. A base support assembly for fillers and vacuum vessels comprising a substantially tubular axially extending support member of resilient material having its upper end shaped to form a seat to accommodate the base of the filler, a generally cylindrical extension integrally connected to the support member adjacent its upper end and adapted to encircle a tubulation formed at the base of the filler, said cylindrical extension being resilient and being of lesser axial length than said tubular support member, said support member being adapted to be resiliently deformed when a compressive force is exerted thereto and said cylindrical extension being adapted to be resiliently deformed after a predetermined deformation of said support member to assist in resisting applied forces.
 12. A base support assembly for fillers in vacuum vessels and comprising a substantially tubular axially extending support member of resilient material having its upper end shaped to form a seating to accommodate the base of the filler; and a resilient reinforcing member, the reinforcing member comprising a tube of resilient material disposed within the support member extending axially and substantially coextensive with the support member adjacent the axially extending wall thereof and having respectively an axial length less than the support member; the arrangement being such that when a compression force is applied axially to the assembly such force is initially resisted by the support member and subsequently, if the force is sufficiently large, it is resisted both by the support member and the reinforcing member. 